Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29792, Solomon Ferguson, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Ferguson, Solomon.
S. 29792
CONTENTS

No. 227  Massachusetts  Solomon Ferguson
of Heaps in the State of Mass who was a private in the 6 th Regt. commanded by Captain Ferguson of the Regt. commanded by Col. Wright , in the Mass line for 9 Mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 30 Dollars — 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Aug.  1823 and due to A. Hovey  Handford
  Arrears to the 4 th Mo. '31  $ 60    Rem-ant. allowance ending 21 st Sep. '31  15     $ 75  
Recorded by J. C. Hale  Revolutionary Claim, June 7, 1832. Clerk. Book E. Vol. 2. Page 25
See letter to Corrin Sage May 6, 1831.
48

Sol Ferguson, Application for a Pension
11
12.050

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden Co. on this twenty sixth day of August anno Domini 1832. I personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate now sitting at Springfield within & for said county, Solomon Fergus as a Resident of Hampden in the county of Hampden & Commonwealth of Mass. aged seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of enlarged paper the June 7. 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - He enlisted as a minute man in said Hampden, and was called into service and marched to Roxbury in said Commonwealth in April 1775 immediately after the alarm of the Battle at Lexington - Immediately after he arrived at Roxbury, after a hurried march, which must have been in said April he enlisted and served from April 1775 till January 1776 - He served in the company of Capt. John Ferguson, whose head was Daniel Hamilton - His Colonel was a large man whose name is not now clearly recalled - but he thinks was Daniel his Lieutenant was William St. Lard - He was at Roxbury at the time of Bunker Hill He enlisted & served one month at Ticonderoga in 1776 immediately after the American fleet was destroyed - The names of his officers he does not now recalled - except in Capt. whose name was David McLaughlin He was born in said Hampden in 1754 & has always lived there, and does now, He has always understood, & now believes that

his age is recorded on the Records of said Town, and in his Father's family Bible which he has not. The manner of going into the service was by enlistment.
The General officers under whom he served were Genl. Thomas & Genl. Spencer who commanded on the Roxbury side till Genl. Washington arrived. His service was in the Massachusetts militia. He never had a discharge, always served his time and was dismissed. He has no documentary evidence of his service at Fredericksburg, and is not at present able to find any living witness of the fact. The persons who are well acquainted with me in the Town in which I have always lived (among others) are Rev. Darius Clark, Deacon Boies Esq. David Boies Esq. Esq. Boies Esq. Rev. Sage Esq. Asst. Master Genl. Alanson Root Esq.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid Solomon Ferguson
We Darius Clarke a clergyman residing in the Town of Mansfield in the County of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Elisha Hall Physician & Surgeon residing in said Mansfield hereby certify that we were well acquainted with Solomon Ferguson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, (and who died last winter) that we believe him to have been seventy eight years of age that he was respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion.
and Mansfield the 10th day of

Enos Boice Esq. - serving Sayer Esq. - Dist. Master & Genl. Alanson Root Esq. & etc. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension rolls of the army of any state. Solomon Ferguson sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
We Dorus Clarke a clergyman residing in the Town of Blandford in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Mass. Chas. Hall Physician & Surgeon residing in said Blandford hereby certify that we were well acquainted with Solomon Ferguson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, (and who died last winter) that we believe him to have been seventy eight years of age that he was reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion dated at Blandford this 20 th day of July A.D. 1833
Dorus Clarke
sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Chas. Hall
Before me Alanson Root Dist. Pan.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampshire ss: - I Justice Willard Clerk of the Court of Probate within the said County of Hampshire. The above being one of my records, do hereby certify that Dorus Clarke, named in the foregoing certificate is known to me to be a clergyman residing in said Blandford & that Chas. Hall is also named in said certificate as a physician & surgeon residing in said Blandford & that their statements are entitled to credit. I also certify that Alanson Root before whom the said foregoing certificate was sworn to and subscribed & sworn to is an Justice of the Peace, within & for said County. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Probate Court this twenty third day of July A.D. 1833. Justice Willard

And the said Court Present the Hon. Oliver B Morris Judge, after investigating the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department do hereby declare their opinion that the above named Applicant was a soldier of the revolution and served as he states
I Justin Willard Register of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Solomon Fanger for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
J Willard Register

28912050.
Solomon Ferguson
Price 9 Mths
14. 06
May 17 1835
P. 402
Alanson Knox Esq Blandford
Justin Williams Esq Hampshire
Massachusetts.

BRIEF in the case of Solomon Ferguson of Hampden County in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? A Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 years.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1775 From April 19th to Jan 1776. (8 months 10 days) private Gen. John Ferguson   1776 1 ~ private Col David M c Conoughy  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hampden County, Massachusetts.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? First two proven by Timothy, David & John Blain - no evidence of the last two -  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. H. Pleasant Examining Clerk.

29792 Rev  INVALID.  ✓
File No. 29,792
Solomon Ferguson Rev Rev Mr
Act: James Jr 29"
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 134
[Arrangement of 1870.]

M c Blair, Deposition for Col t Ferguson
Hampden J. July 1. 1893 I hereby certify that John Blair the within informant is well known to me and has been for more than thirty years he is and always has been a man of unexceptionable character in all respects, and his reputation for truth and veracity is perfectly good Alanson Knapp Ind. Pa.

I John Blair of Haverford in the County of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify and say that I am well acquainted with Solomon Ferguson of Haverford aforesaid, and have been ever since we were Boys, & long before the Revolutionary war. - I served in said war in the Company commanded by Capt. John Ferguson. His Lieut. was David Hamilton, I joined said Company in Aug. I think. Said Ferguson was then a member of said Company and it was said, and believed, and I believe that he joined said Company the latter part of April preceding. This was in the year announced 1775 and I know that said Ferguson served in said Company till it was dismissed, which was the last of December 1775. or the first of January 1776, and this service was all Roxbury in Massachusetts - said service was performed in the Massachusetts Militia. and I was with said Ferguson in said Company till the same was dismissed as aforesaid.
John Blair
Hampden. Aug. 6. 1832. Personally appeared John Blair signer of the foregoing Deposition and made solemn oath that the same was true -
Before me -
Elkanah Root Just. Peace.
Hampden. I John Ingersoll Clerk of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that the foregoing Deposition was sworn to before me the above deposition was certified to a justice of the peace for the County of Hampshire. & that his name subscribed is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Commonwealth at Springfield on this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk

I Timothy Blair of Blandford County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Gentlemen. of Lawful age do testify and say that I am personally acquainted with Solomon Ferguson of said Blandford and was marched with him as minute men to Barberry and he the said Solomon Ferguson did enlist in Capt. John Ferguson's Company in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and seventy five in the month of April of said year, for a term of Eight months and served in said Company until January next ensuing. said Company was attached to Col. Danilsons Regiment
And further the deponent saith not.
Dated at Blandford afore said this twenty third day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty two Timothy Blair
Hampden ss. Augt. 23. 1832
Then Timothy Blair personally appeared and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed
Before me Lyman Gibbs Just. of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Lyman Gibbs Esq., before whom the above deposition was taken is a justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden and that I believe his hand thereto subscribed to be his true & genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Springfield on this twenty fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk

Hampden July 1. 1833 I hereby certify that Simon H. Blair the within duplicate has been well known to me ever since my boyhood. He is and always has been a man of strict truth & veracity and his word is entitled to full credit. Lyman Gibbs Brd. Pa.

for J. L. Edwards Esq Pension Office City Washington

Boston Jan'y 2 d 1834
Sir I have a Pension Certificate given to Solomon Ferguson dated 27 th Augt 1833 which has been presented at the Pension office in this city and payment refused because the name was not returned to the office — Your attention to the subject will oblige
J. L. Edwards Esq.
your obt servt
Orren Dage

19050
William Ferguson
Please not culpable to Rev. Alanson Knox Blandford Mass Justin Holcomb Springfield Ms

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Solomon Thompson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes. II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes. III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? _____ IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes. V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes. VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes. VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes. VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes. IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes. X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes.

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? living witness prove the service of declarant in part - says he has no evidence of the other service not proved - XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes in part - If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes. XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes. XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes.
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.